Next-gen innovations drive 16.5 percent of total patents in China

Patents in next-generation technologies, including artificial intelligence, the internet, cloud computing, and big data, now account for 16.5 percent of China's total valid invention patents, an official announced on Wednesday.

Rui Wenbiao, spokesman and deputy commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration, shared the data at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office, noting that the accelerated accumulation of patents in frontier sectors is empowering and enhancing the creation of new drivers of economic growth.

By the end of June, China had 2.36 million high-value invention patents, translating to 16.8 patents per 10,000 population, Rui said.

In the first half of this year, the country granted 453,000 invention patents and registered over 2.05 million trademarks, he added.

"The steady rise of high-value patents is a direct reflection of China's continuously improving innovation strength," he said. He revealed the trademark structure is also being optimized, with service-sector ones now accounting for 31 percent of total valid registered marks, building a solid "shield of protection" for branding development in the modern service industry.

Additionally, from January to June, China identified 64 geographical indication products and issued 5,061 integrated circuit layout design registration certificates, Rui said.

Moreover, two new national-level IP protection centers and six fast-track dispute resolution centers were approved for construction, he said, adding that all the numbers underscore China's sustained push for innovation-driven development, with emerging technologies playing an increasingly prominent role in the country's IP landscape.